After a Mexican flag was tossed to director Guillermo del Toro by a fan, he kissed it before unfolding it over his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (photo by Ryan Mancini)

Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro was honored on Tuesday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located outside 6922 Hollywood Blvd. and across the street from the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Del Toro, known for directing the first two “Hellboy” films, as well as “Pacific Rim,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Cronos” and “The Shape of Water,” which won Del Toro several Academy Awards last year, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The 2,669th star was presented by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president Rana Ghadban.

“There are two things I would like to clarify today about me,” Del Toro said. “No. 1, I’m weird and I really, really love that chance we almost have to be weird, come back, come back to being weird, saying ‘screw everything,’ go even deeper ­– whatever we want to do … the second thing you need to know is that I’m Mexican and I am an immigrant.”

Director J.J. Abrams and musician Lana del Rey both spoke about Del Toro and his body of work. Del Rey recalled a story by Clarissa Pinkola Estés which reminded her of Del Toro’s more recent films, “all uniquely told through archetypes and classic stories in a style that can instantly be identified as Guillermo’s.”

Abrams reflected back to his first meeting with Del Toro and makeup artist Dick Smith in 1991.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so instantly envious of someone’s raw and gorgeous talent,” Abrams said. “I’m so blown away by this voice, this vision that was crystal clear even before seeing any of his films.”

Del Toro said people today live in fear and division. When, he said, people tell him he dwells in fantasies, his reply is he “deals with the facts of the soul.”

“As a Mexican, receiving this star is a gesture,” he said. “No gesture right now can be banal or simple. This is very important and that is happening right now, because I can tell to all of you, all immigrants from every nation, that you should believe in the possibilities and not the obstacles. Ever. Do not believe the lies they tell about us.”

Other stars in attendance included actor and frequent Del Toro collaborator Ron Perlman, Dreamworks Animation co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, actors Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and Clifton Collins Jr., as well as director André Øvredel and cast members from the upcoming film produced by Del Toro, “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.”